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Philadelphia Eagles have done a lot with a little this offseason

By Russell S. Baxter

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 22: A.J. Brown #11 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Nissan Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bengals defeated the Titans 19-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 22: A.J. Brown #11 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Nissan Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bengals defeated the Titans 19-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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From last place in 2020 to a playoff appearance one year later. Now the Philadelphia Eagles look to build on last season’s winning campaign.

It’s a simple fact that perhaps some have overlooked. The Philadelphia Eagles have actually reached the playoffs four of the past five seasons.

The organization has managed that feat with two different head coaches (Doug Pederson and current sideline leader Nick Sirianni) and three different starting quarterbacks in Nick Foles, Carson Wentz, and now Jalen Hurts.

One of the common denominators is general manager Howie Roseman over the last few years. And this offseason, he was at his wheeling-and-dealing best. When you look at the raw numbers, the Birds didn’t add a lot of players this offseason.

But who the club was able to obtain speaks volumes. And if all goes well, this is a team that could threaten the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East this year.

Earlier this year, the Eagles owned three first-round draft choices for 2022. But when it was all said and done, the team wound up selecting only a total of five players.

Philadelphia moved up in the first round to select talented defensive tackle Jordan Davis. After adding center Cam Jurgens (Nebraska) in the second round, Roseman opted for Davis’ teammate at the University of Georgia in linebacker Nakobe Dean in round three.

But the bigger news that Thursday night in Las Vegas was the fact that the Eagles obtained former Tennessee Titans’ Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown. He’ll team with second-year pro Devonta Smith and newcomer Zach Pascal (Colts) and should make life easier for quarterback Jalen Hurts.

There were also two more veterans added over the last three months that should aid coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s 10th-ranked defensive unit from 2021. Back in March, the club inked emerging pass-rusher Haason Reddick – late of the Panthers.

Over the past two seasons with Arizona (12.5) and Carolina (11.0), he’s amassed a combined 23.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles. This past season, the Eagles totaled just 29 QB traps in 17 regular-season outings.

More recently, Philadelphia added cornerback James Bradberry, late of the rival New York Giants. The one-time Carolina Panthers defender spent the past two seasons with Big Blue.

But he was a salary cap casualty this offseason and the Eagles pounced on the opportunity to grab the 2020 Pro Bowler.

Some define a great offseason by the number of additions. In the case of these Eagles, it’s more about quality than quantity.

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